
ABOUT


Curren M. Whitfield completed her undergraduate studies in Sociology and Psychology at the University of Miami in Coral Gables, FL. She went on the earn a Masters in Social Work from Rutgers University in Newark, NJ.
Since 2009 Curren has worked as a social worker and therapist throughout New Jersey building relationships with children, teens, and families in public schools, behavioral and therapeutic schools, a residential treatment center, outpatient mental health center and private practice. With trauma-informed, neurodiversity-affirming, culturally sensitive, and brain & strengths-based foundations, Curren specializes in child and adolescent issues, play therapy, attachment, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy, treating children ages 3 and up.
Curren believes that every child deserves to feel safe, loved, supported, and connected. Each of these is imperative in a child's healthy attachment and development. Unfortunately, sometimes a child misses out on one or more of these things due to circumstances completely beyond their control, and often beyond the parents' control as well.
By providing a safe environment and a deeply respectful, child-centered, and friendly approach, children will learn to regulate emotions, better understand thoughts and feelings, and be able to process, heal, and grow in whatever way they need to; parents will feel supported in their parenting approach, and families will regain a sense of connection and healthy attachment to each other.
​
PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIAL​
-
Licensed Clinical Social Worker #44SC05712200 NJ
-
NJ Certified School Social Worker
​
ADDITIONAL TRAINING & EDUCATION
-
Child Centered Play Therapy
-
MIGDAS-2 Monteiro Interview Guidelines for Diagnosing the Autism Spectrum in Children & Adolescents
-
Trauma Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)
-
DIR Floortime
​
AFFILIATIONS
-
Association for Play Therapy (APT)
-
National Association of Social Workers (NASW)​
​
My Approach
I am a child-centered play therapist and allow the child to lead the way. I believe in children as whole, autonomous beings with the right to respect and dignity as a person of any age. I am not a behavioral therapist. I do not encourage or advocate for the frequent use of behavioral strategies that, more often than not, undermine the existing internal motivation of the child and lead to feelings of shame, and ultimately are coercive for the benefit of the adult. ​
​
Instead, I focus on the C’s … Connection, Compassion, Curiosity, Clarity, Creativity, and Collaboration.
​
By following the lead of the child, allowing for a permissive environment, your child will feel empowered to explore and express their inner experiences of the world. Themes and patterns will arise in their play and these will be the basis of my conversations with the caregiver in order to address any concerns you have about your child.